Latching device for collapsible stands for ironing boards



March 22, 1949. s, ROUNDS ET AL 2,454,894

LATCHING DEVICE FOR COLLAPSIBLE STANDS FOR IRONING BOARDS Filed July 50, 1947 INVENTORS KENNETH S. ROUNDS BY RAYMOND \N. (JERLACH Patented Mar. 22, 1949 UN HTED STATES OFFICE LATCHING DEVICE FOR COLLAPSIBLEL STANDS. FOR IRONING BOARDS;

Wisconsin Applicationlifly 30, 1947; Serial No; 764,744-- 2 Claims; 1

This invention relates to improvements: latching devices for collapsible stands for ironing boards, particularly of the three-legged type.

Latch devices mountedon the front legs are utilized to hold the collapsible legs in extended board-supporting position, and upon being unlatched permit the legs of the stand to be folded. Latching devices presently used are manually unlatched. Often they stick, and considerable unlatching force isnecessary. As a result of this-the hands of" the operator are frequently hurt or it becomes impossible for the operator'to unlatch the devices.

Itis an object of thisinvention, therefore, to provide a latching devicewhich automatically locks the legs in extended: position, and which maybe unlatched either manually or by downward pressure applied by foot.

This objectisaccomplished by providing the usual locking link with aslotted back and sides to form space for receiving a latch-pivoted to the front leg as the legs are moved to extended position. As the link moves intolocking position, the latch, being spring biased upwardly, automatically engages and locks the linkin'such position; The latch extends beyond the-front edgerof the front leg and it is only necessary to press it downwardly to unlatch the link. Such pressing may be readily accomplished by foot power applied while the table is supported in upright position or manually with the table in any position.

The novel features, which are considered characteristic of the invention, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of an ironing board with collapsible legs having a latching device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the latching device embodying the present invention taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view taken from the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged view taken from the line 44 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional vie-w taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, the latching mechanism is shown associated with the: channel I shaped: front leg; H) of" at collapsible. three-legged stand. for the ironing. board H.. The frontzleghavingztwo sides. andi ay bridge, the bridge constitutingthe. front: face. or

edge. of the leg.. The rear: legs I2:are:connected tothe-front leg l0. byubracarods l3 whichcause;

the legs to swing-in unison. Locking rods- I4 ex+ tending from the rear legs I2 are connectedto: the front leg lfithrougharlocking link. IS; The; link It is pivoted to the front leg ID by thezsame;

pivot Hi which secures the brace rod. I3}. This much, of the construction is. well known.- When the legs are inextended'supporting, position: as; shown in the full lines; the locking, link I5 is. in: locking.positionadjacent the-frontleg Ill. The...

link, when unlocked, swings away; f-rom'theleg iii-to permit the legs to be swung toward folded.

position as is :shownin thebroken lines.=v

The locking-link 15 has axback and two sides.v Atwits upper end,-,the'sides=are:spa'cedwso; that they have a sliding; fit' against the inner sides of: the leg Ill-. Thisprovides a stable bearing on.-the pivot l8. At itslower end; the-"sidesare;closer* and snugly contain therebetween, on' pivot. H,

the ends. of. the. locking rods"; [4. The back: and' sides of thelocking link l5lhave. a slot 1-8 which receives the latch I 9 and its pivot 20 to permit the link to swing from the unlocked position shown in broken lines to locked position within the leg l0 shown in the full lines.

The latch I9 is provided with a locking tooth 2| which engages with the upper edge of the slot l8 to lock the link l5 in the locked position. A spring 22 wrapped around the pivot 20 has a central portion bearing againstthe latch l9, and its ends are held in tabs '23 struck inwardly from the sides of the leg I0. -The spring 22 urges the latch l9 upwardly. As the link l5 moves into the locked position, the latch is depressed until the tongue 2| slides behind the edge of the slot IS. The latch then springs upwardly to cause the tongue and edge to interlock thus holding the link ,29 in locked position. It has been found preferable, but not necessary, to provide such edge of the slot !8 with a slight outward and downward taper. This facilitates the unlatching mo tion without in any way lessening the holding action between the latch and such edge.

In order to permit the latch 19 to be readily operated, the bridge of the leg ID has a slot 24 through which the latch I9 projects. The bottom of the slot is low enough to permit the latch to be swung downwardly and the tongue 2! disengaged from the link IS. The top of the slot, when the link 2| is swung away from locked position, holds the latch IS in readiness to be received within the slot l8 and to be pressed downwardly by the action of the edge of the slot I8 riding along the slope of the tongue 2|. Once the latching device is locked, it is unlocked by moving the latch l9 downwardly. This may be readily accomplished by placing the foot on the top of the projecting portion of the latch and pushing down. The bridge of the leg I acts as a guide for the foot and makes this movement a simple one to perform. As the unlatching occurs the weight of the table will immediately cause the legs to start to collapse moving the locking link I5 out of contact with the tongue 2|. Thereafter pressure on the latch may be released and the folding of the legs completed. As the legs are swung to supporting position the link [5 will ride along the slope of the tongue 2| until it passes its locking edge. The latch l9 will then snap into the looking position under the force of spring 20 and link will be automatically locking in the fully locked position. When in this position the looking rods I 4 brace the legs in supporting position against any folding action.

Although only one embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein, it will be understood that this application is intended to cover such changes or modifications as come within the spirit of the invention or scope of the following claims:

We claim:

1. In a three-legged collapsible ironing board stand the front leg of which is channel-shaped having sides and a front wall within which and below the center thereof is pivotally mounted a locking link having a back and two sides, the pro vision of latching means for holding the locking link in extended leg locked position comprising a latch pivotally mounted in said front leg on a pivot extending between the sides of said front leg, a slot in said front wall through which said latch extends to provide a latch operating portion projecting beyond said front wall and adapted to be engaged by a foot of the operator, a spring reacting between a side of said front leg and said latch to urge said operating portion upwardly in said slot, interlocking portions on said latch and the back of said locking link engageable when said operating portion is urged upwardly in said slot and disengageable upon downward movement of said portion in said slot, and a slot in said locking link accommodating said pivot when said link is in extended leg locked position.

2. In a three-legged collapsible ironing board stand the front leg of which is channel-shaped having sides and a front wall within which and below the center thereof is pivotally mounted a locking link having a back and two sides, the provision of latching means for holding the locking link in extended leg locked position comprising a latch pivotally mounted in said front leg on a pivot extending between the sides of said front leg, a slot in said front wall through which said latch extends to provide a latch operating portion projecting beyond said front wall and adapted to be engaged by a foot of the operator, 9. spring mounted on said pivot reacting between a side of said front leg and said latch to urge said operating portion upwardly in said slot, interlocking portions on said latch and the back of said looking link engageable when said operating portion is urged upwardly in said slot and disengageabie upon downward movement of said portion in said slot, and a slot in the back and sides of said looking link to accommodate said latch and said pivot when said link is in extended leg locked position, the top edge of the slot in said back constituting one of said interlocking portions, said spring having a leg portion lying between said locking link and the side of said leg so as not to interfere with the positioning of said link in said locked position.

KENNETH S. ROUNDS. RAYMOND W. GERLACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,627,556 Gilbert May 10, 1927 2,162,672 Johannsen June 13, 1939 

